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Volume XX-Issue 1054 November 19, 2024
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Urgent Call To Protect Alberta’s Wild Horses
One of the wild horses. Photo Sue Chikie
Lorna Hamilton
According to the government, these cattle,” Glover stated. animals’ historical and cultural signifimeasures are necessary to mitigate the HAWS also highlights findings from cance. Alberta’s iconic wild horses, affec- environmental and financial impacts of a 2015 health report, which concluded HAWS is urging the public to take tionately known as “Wildies,” are once unmanaged horse populations. t h a t w i l d h o r s e s c a u s e m i n i m a l action by contacting Alberta Premier again at risk. The Help Alberta Wildies Forestry and Parks Minister Todd damage to the environment compared Dani e ll e S m it h an d M ini ster To d d Society (HAWS) is raising alarms over Loewen emphasized the government’s to other human activities. The group Loewen. Key points for let ters and new management plans by the provin- commitment to protecting both wild is adamant that the current wild horse emails include: cial government that they argue could horses and their ecosystems, stating: p o p u l at i o n i s s t a b l e o r d e c l i n i n g , - Oppose the culling of wild horses, lead to the decline of wild horse popula- “Alberta’s government is dedicated to contradicting government claims of particularly in the Clearwater Zone, tions. HAWS is urging immediate public protecting our native wildlife, vegeta- overpopulation. where numbers are critically low. action to stop what they describe as tion, and feral horses, ensuring they G l over an d HAWS war n t h at - Reject the use of contraception as misguided and harmful policies. thrive in their ecosystems.” proposed solutions, including cull- a population management tool. The Alber ta government recently HAWS Pushes Back ing and contraception, could push - Advocate for wild horses to receive released its Feral Horse Management HAWS President Darrell Glover, who wild horses toward extinction. They “Naturalized Species” status. Framework 2023, describing the prov- has spent over a decade advocating argue that contraception, in particular, - Emphasize the cultural and tourince’s wild horses as descendants of for the Wildies, strongly disagrees. He may seem humane but could silently ism value of Alberta’s wild horses. domestic animals released during the argues that these management plans reduce population numbers over time. Contact Information: pre- and post-Industrial Revolution. The are based on flawed data and miscon“ We cannot stand by and let the Premier Danielle Smith report underscores the importance of ceptions about the impact of wild horses government implement policies that Email: premier@gov.ab.ca managing these horses to protect Alber- on Alberta’s ecosystems. will lead to what we call ‘equine genoMinister Todd Loewen ta’s multi-use landscapes and ensure “They said [the horses] were full of cide,’” said Glover. Email: fp.minister@gov.ab.ca long-term ecological sustainability. Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)—we HAWS is calling for Alberta’s wild Glover remains hopeful that with T h e fr a m ewo r k s et s p o p u l at i o n proved that wrong! Then they claimed horses to be recognized as a natu- public suppor t, HAWS can protect thresholds and outlines management the numbers were skyrocketing—again, ralized species, deserving of unique Alberta’s wild horse heritage. “United, strategies, including adoption programs we proved that wrong. Now they’re protections under the law. They criti- we stand a chance to make a differand the use of contraception to control saying the horses are damaging the cize the government for lumping wild ence,” he said. horse populations in areas where they landscape, but the real damage comes horses under the Stray Animals Act, a For more information, contact have exceeded recommended numbers. from logging, off-road vehicles, and designation they feel fails to reflect the HAWS at hawsteam@gmail.com. Reporter